Tales of the mythical unicorn date back to around 400 BC, perhaps confused or exaggerated descriptions of animals like the rhinoceros or wild bulls and horses. The creature was at first thought to be huge, strong and fierce, but it later became a more elegant beast, a symbol of purity and innocence. James I of England, who united the English and Scottish thrones, chose the Scottish Unicorn to join the Lion of England in supporting the Royal Arms. They have supported the shield ever since.

The Unicorn of Scotland, milk-white with gold hooves, horn and mane, has a coronet around its neck, like a collar, with a gold chain attached. It is thought that the chain was to show a great beast had been tamed to serve the king. As with most chained beasts in heraldry, its strength is emphasised rather than diminished by its shackles. It holds the royal coat of Scotland, unchanged since the time of Scottish king, Alexander III. A red lion rampant (the most fierce stance) is shown on a gold background.

The Royal Mint seriesQueen’s BeastCoin SeriesThe Queen’s Beasts Collection is a series of ten coins from The Royal Mint, inspired by the ancestral beasts of heraldry, myth and legend that have watched over Her Majesty The Queen throughout her extraordinary reign, from her coronation to her Sapphire Jubilee.

Working With Us

Follow us on

The Royal Mint Limited whose registered office is at Llantrisant, Pontyclun, CF72 8YT, United Kingdom (registered in England and Wales No. 06964873).

All information contained on or available through this website is for general information purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Please note that certain products, storage and delivery services will be dependent on the type of account you hold. Bullion markets can be volatile and the value of Bullion may fluctuate dependent on the market value of precious metals. As such, investments in Bullion involve a degree of risk, which may make them unsuitable for certain persons. Before making any investment decision, you may wish to seek advice from your financial, legal, tax and accounting advisers. You should carefully consider the risks associated with investing in Bullion, taking into account your own individual financial needs and circumstances. Investments in Bullion should only be made as part of a diversified investment portfolio and investment advice should be sought before any investment is made. Historic financial performance of Bullion is not indicative of and does not guarantee future financial performance.

* Bullion product prices displayed include the precious metal price and any applicable premium. Any promotions or discounts are applied to the premium above the precious metal price only and not on the metal price itself. All prices shown on product pages already reflect any applicable discounts.

Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. We use cookies to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website. We do this by personalising content and ads and analysing use to allow us to improve our website. You can change your cookie settings at any time. If you continue without changing your settings, you accept our use of cookies as outlined in our Privacy Policy.